01:00 AM EST on Saturday, December 4, 2004

See a forest of trees and maybe buy one, too

With just two weekends until Christmas -- can you believe it?! -- we have a host of holiday events to herald the season.

Whether you're too busy to tackle the trimming or just looking for some inspiration, this weekend's Festival of Trees at the Rhode Island Convention Center is the event for you. More than 100 one-of-a-kind, professionally decorated artificial trees are on display, and every single one of them is for sale. And whether you're looking for something very small or terribly tall, there's a size here that's just right; the trees range from 2 to 9 feet.

You'll also find handmade wreaths, an edible Gingerbread Village, and gift items. Proceeds benefit Providence CityArts for Youth, Inc., so for once, the more you spend, the better you can feel. To add to the merriment, there will be Christmas music, storytelling and puppet shows.

Show hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children age 2 to 12, and free for kids under 2. The Convention Center is located at 1 Sabin St., Providence. For more information, call (401) 351-8733 or visit www.rifestivaloftrees.com.

Family fun in Pawtucket

Starting today, Slater Memorial Park in Pawtucket is transformed into a Winter Wonderland, with lighted trees, storybook buildings and wooden character cutouts. Inside a heated tent (note to fellow cold-blooded creatures: this is a very good thing), there is continuous entertainment for children, including crafts, face-painting and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

From noon to 8 p.m. today and 4 to 8 p.m. tomorrow, there will be hayrides, carousel and train rides in the park, which is on Newport Avenue (Route 1A) in Pawtucket. The event is free, with fees of $2 for hayrides and $3 for rides on the miniature train. For more information, call (401) 728-0500, ext. 251.

Stay in Pawtucket and take part in Holly Day today at Slater Mill. See how the season was celebrated during the 19th century, with storytelling around the hearth and an ornament-making workshop (hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

At noon, puppeteer Dan Butterworth will kick off his new exhibit, "Art Machines," -- interactive art that visitors can manipulate -- in the gallery in the Visitors Center with a performance of his marionettes. He'll perform again at 3 and 4:30 p.m. Santa arrives at 12:45 p.m., and at 2 p.m., there will be a bell-ringing concert.

Admission is free. Slater Mill is at 67 Roosevelt Ave. in downtown Pawtucket; the Visitors Center is across Main Street at 175 Main. Call (401) 725-8638 or visit www.slatermill.org.

All decked out in Newport

There's something magical about the Christmas scene at Bowen's Wharf in Newport, with its annual holiday tradition of decking out the boats in holiday lights. Today is an especially good day to check them out, as it's also the date for the annual Bowen's Wharf Christmas Tree Lighting.

The festivities get underway at 4:30 p.m., when Frosty the Snowman arrives. At 5 p.m., vocalist Diane Blue and guitarist Chuck Ciany will perform Christmas songs. And once the tree is lit at 6 p.m., Santa arrives by Oldport boat launch. Bring your wish list; he'll be listening to whispered requests from a perch in a horse-drawn carriage.

Santa sails into Wickford

If you always come down on the side of white lights in the white-versus-colored-bulbs debate, Wickford will be your idea of holiday heaven. During this weekend's Festival of Lights, thousands of white lights will illuminate houses and businesses in the waterfront village. Today and tomorrow, Santa will make a grand entrance aboard the Brandaris sailing vessel at 12:30 p.m. (Town Dock on Brown Street offers the best view.) Tomorrow from 1 to 5 p.m., there's a Holiday Open House Gala at the Wickford Art Association (36 Beach St.). Call (401) 295-5566 or visit www.northkingstown.com